The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-12-13
WOMEN AS NIGHT WORKERS.
Their Numbers In New York City Con-
stantIy Increasing-troping for a Car.


The number Is well nigh legion, in big
city like New York, Of women and girls
whose daily tasks keep them from home
after dark, and who make their way
through the streets alone with IMMUNITY
The belated traveller meets them, sfngly
and IN groups, at the bridge and ferries at
all hours from early dark till long past
midnight, and II lac Is out himself, toward
morning. Some Of them-not very many
set type in newspaper offices, though
they are supposed not 10, and there Is
respectable minority in n great variety OF
trades aud occupations, but the vast body
Of them are clerks and cashiers in the big
stores. whose labOrs during the busy sea
son keep them away from home late at
nght Even in stores where there IS an
early CLOSING" rule, the purchasers are
not got rid Of till 6 O'Clock, when there Is
still the work Of clearing up the days de
bris TO be done, and there il no pretense OF
closing on Saturday evenings or during
the holidays Midnight very frequently
oycriakes the toiler at the counter with
her tasks unfinished, and there are Occa-
siOns when nearly the whole night must
be spent in preparation for some special
coup of trade
The woman doctor il out at all hours,
- course and baye met medical stu
dent Of barely 20 trudging along at
O'Clock in the morning, while the falling
rnin almost blinded her, her hand on the
shoulder Of a ragged lad Of 10, who was
conducting her TO "A sick bed ia the east
side tenement region.
IL j. good deal to the credit Of the
metropolis that ~ a rule these girls are
nearly us safe from rudeness rs IN the
daylight. They are modest and unOb-
trusiNe in appearance. they mind their
own business and have ways 10 make the
would ic mashcr mind his. From night
tailcr- a. the other seX-men and boys
who arc out 90 night Ou errands Of neees-
..ty-thc, have little 90 fear The work
in.man or boy nay be rude when he j.
dlunE. and -omeiiuos when he is not, but
ht la .tldOm persistent and not often IA
tcnfionally troublesome
This growing frequency Of night en-
pl.siieut for women means tremendous
a. .nrc iu The once accepted notions ami
opinions If mankind The judge who dc
clare from the bcuci that woman has
mO business to BE- abroad after dark is yet
heard from once ia while. but the ana
chronim always calls forth burst ~
righteous Indignation Twas talking with
"a uight worker masculine the other day
about this very topic lie said that he
bad often lost his horse car and had %
wait "a half hour for another ia the wee
small hours because Of his reluctance 10
let fellow worker feminine grope alone
for her car in the muddy streets. Despite
this experience which is enough 10 make
any bat the most sweet tempered man
conservative, he spoke most enthusiast
cally Of the effect likely 10 be produced
upOn women, especially young women, by
self supporting habits, aud said he looked
10 see them gain i'm worth and dignity
and practical knowledge by contact with
practical necessities. The working girl
viii never be- wholly practical, however
50 long as she permits a man 10 lose his
own car while finding hers unless she has
reasons 10 suspect that the service is "A
pleasure 10 him.
The more nearly even the terms upon
which women and men conduct their daily
business the better it Is for the business
woman probably New York Cor Wash
iugtOn Post